The National tribune., 1887-08-25

The National Pension Committee were called to-
cciher at the home of the Chairman, Mrs. 4. Flor
enoe Barker. Maiden. Mass. and the matter OF a
pension bill for enrolled army nurses was consid-
cred aud such action taken that the bill Viii be pre-
scented to the next Congress. The work oi this
committee has the hearty approval oil members oil
Council of Administration aud OF the GAR. Pen
sion Committee. We clip the following editorial
from the Pdtrio, aud People. Concord, n. H.. in
reference To the proposed bill:
Among the multiplicity of pension schemes,
good, bad and indifferent, now being pushed or
developed for presentation at the next session of
Congress, there IL one which must certainly COM
mand respectful consideration at the hands of that
body, ana which as II seems 10 us - not without
substantial merit. We refer 90 the proposed meas
ure for pensioning enrolled army nurses, engaged
in the service during the late war, which has been
prepared through the agency and supervision OF
the National Pension Committee of the Woman's
Relief Corps, consisting Of Mrs. T. Florence Bar
ker Of Maiden, Mass, Chairman; Mrs. Kate Ii.
Sherwood, OF Ohio; Mrs Mary A Logan and Miss
Clara Barton. oil Washington. and Mrs Lydia A.
Scott Of Manchester. The committee had meet
ing at the home OF the Chairman last week, which
was largely devoted to the consideration Of ways
and means FOR promoting the success of this meas
ure, which has also the warm approval Of the Pen
sion Committee az the Grand Army ofthc Republic,
10 which the Woman's Relief Corps is auxiliary
We do not believe la the principle or expediency
of ndiscrminate service pensions for the soldiers
engaged in the late war, but when it comes to the
question OF pcnsiouing the heroic and devoted
women who voluntarily brayed the horrors OF field
aud hospitals "a minister TO the sufieTing- of the
sick ana wounded soldiers of the Union. impelled
try aud humanity, many Of whom are no longer
able TO care for themselves aud unprOyidcd with
means Of support-when ii comes to the question
OF pensions for these. we say there should be no
opposition from any quarter"
woMAN's PART IN THE WAR.
DEAR TRIBUNE: The question often arises. "What
has she done? What can u woman do in time of
WARP" True, she caunot fire the cannon nor use
the bayoBet, nor in the late rebellion could she
have MADE those long marches by dBy and 10y
night IN rain aud storm, a. was very many times
needul IN order that the victory might he Obtained
No, she could not have done THIS, neither WAS IT
necessary TO do. our fathers and brothers. hus-
bands aud children left their happy homes 10 do
this great aud nohlc work, and they did do H. and
did IL bravely and well and had il been necessary
to save this Union 10 have done greater work. that
greater work would have been done. To-day
every true soldier IL proud OF the honor rghlully
assigned TO him for having performed his duty
nobly, Notwithstanding the many hRrdships he
was obliged 10 pass through.
Then what could woman do?
1t il very easy 10 state what she might do and
that which very many OF them did do. With her
own hands she titled the soil, raised her own bread,
meat and vegetables harnessed her own team.
drove 20 mill, chopped her own firewood in sun
shine or in storm, aud, by her sSlful manage
ment, many hundred bushels Of wheat were made
! into bread aud bareback; many, many pounds Of
coffee were roasted aud ground for the soldiers.
herself using peas aud Drowned cOrnbread rs sub
| sliIutes The care OF the stock on the farm de-
volved upon her; she raised her own sheep. as
sisted Ia the shearing. carcng spinning and weav-
ing that herself aud children might be clothed aud
mace comfortable. Many boxes anu barrels las
she sent containing extras niceies 10 tempt the
return OF appetite To him whom sickness or wounds
had deprived Of the relish Of food, that the well
ones might have little taste of luxury from far
away home; Ia the meantime Offering the fervent
though silent prayer for the safe return Of her
and her neghbors loved ones. Aye. she did
more than this. How often have we known Of her
boarding Southern-bo train with her roll OF
lint and linen, accepting the burdensome duties OF
nurse and Drawing he unpleasant features and dis
agreeable associations that surrounded her In those
/ dreaded
the wounds of one, batl4ed the fcvered brow of an
other, replied 10 letter from home of third, and
spoke words of comfort aud sympathy TO all
What more could she have done2 And now, aft Fl
ing side by side with the soldier. ready extend
any nccdul aid To the widows aud orphans Of those
who have given their lives. their health. or man
hoods strength that their country might be saved
! Surely she has done what she could; and GER
tainly Is she not still doing what she can? -Mrs. Nj
| Rounds, Boscobel, Wis.